Joel Hunt, from Kokomo who has made US Paralympic team. He is an army veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury and partial paralysis in his leg during combat in Iraq and discovered skiing as part of his recovery.(Photo: joe kusumoto)

He has competed at the Sochi Paralympics, visited the White House, been honored by the governor. But Joel Hunt, an adaptive skier and Iraq war veteran, has long maintained that a featured date on his calendar is Saturday.

That’s when the third annual Buddy Bowl, a flag football tournament, will be staged in his hometown of Kokomo. The bowl raises money for families of military, law enforcement and children’s charities. Entry fee is $40 for individuals or $500 for sponsored teams. Proceeds go to Blue Star Mothers, an organization for mothers of soldiers.

Walk-up registration is available at the event, which starts at Northwestern High School. There is a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. honoring military personnel.

“It’s kind of the highlight of the event for me,” Hunt said.

Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders are scheduled to perform and sign autographs. Participating teams are guaranteed at least three games, Hunt said.

Although this is a fund-raiser, organizers said their main mission is to get veterans involved in the community.

“We’re looking at trying to raise the awareness about the veterans and also make sure we get the information out to the veterans and first responders,” said Renee Elson, president of the Heartland Heritage chapter of Blue Star Mothers.

In previous years, Hunt said, he has noticed injured veterans sit, watch and protest that they’re unable to participate. He has coaxed some into playing, which he considers a victory, irrespective of score.

“When I came back from Iraq, it was very hard for me to blend back into society,” Hunt said. “A game like this, it kind of helps you blend back into society. You’re not only playing a game, you’re interacting with different people.”

Hunt believes he is the first to compete in Paralympic skiing with a traumatic brain injury. He is donating the Ralph Lauren-designed sweater that he wore at Sochi’s opening ceremony to Northwestern High School in a presentation set for 2 p.m. Friday.

Hunt, 35, lives in Denver now and said this would probably be his last year as a coordinator of Buddy Bowl. He never had a ski lesson until he was 28, and yet he competed — and finished 24th in giant slalom — on a world stage.

“I never knew how many people really paid attention, how many people I’ve inspired by my journey,” Hunt said.